Madrid plans Cervantes time capsule

The statue of Miguel de Cervantes in Madrid, where the metal box was found Photograph: Arturo Rodriguez/AP

The Madrid regional government wants to plant a new time capsule to replace one filled with books, documents and mementos up to 200 years old that was dug up by workers a month ago from beneath an 1834 statue in Madrid of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote.

The new capsule will contain objects associated with present-day Madrid or with Cervantes.

The old capsule, a tightly sealed lead box, contained five copies of Don Quixote published in 1819, a newspaper from 1834 wrapped around a calendar, travel guides and a manuscript covered in cloth.